Questions about the prospects of getting a specific programming job.
102
votes
31answers
15k views
How old is “too old”? [closed]
I've been told that to be taken seriously as a job applicant, I should drop years of relevant experience off my résumé, remove the year I got my degree, or both. Or not even bother applying, because ...
71
votes
22answers
8k views
Job hopping, is it a problem? [closed]
How would you, as someone involved in the hiring process (manager,interviewer, etc) feel about a candidate that has changed jobs every 1-2 years?
updateThanks for all the input everybody, some really ...
102
votes
47answers
15k views
How can I really “wow” an employer at an interview? [closed]
I'm a top-notch programmer, but a notoriously bad interviewee.
I've flunked 3 interviews consecutively because I get so nervous that my voice tightens at least 2 octaves higher and I start visibly ...
88
votes
18answers
7k views
How to market yourself as a software developer? [closed]
I have noticed that this is a frequent issue among younglings from technical areas such as ours.
In the beginning of our careers we simply don't know how to sell ourselves to our employers, and ...
37
votes
5answers
10k views
What is the role of C++ today?
Currently I'm an IT student and I'm wondering what is still important in C++ today, what for is it used? I completed basic C++ course in my university but I can't imagine where can I use my knowledge ...
40
votes
28answers
7k views
Why are more programmers not freelance these days? [closed]
Leaving the whole pie to only a few of them, amplifying the huge differences between the two status. Pay is a (huge) one, not having to do overtime is another.
I leave the question open to hopefully ...
45
votes
13answers
3k views
Can I be “too young” to get a programming job?
I'm 13 years old, and I'm not planning to apply for a job any time soon (after all, I'm still learning). However, in my late teens (before college) I may want to apply for a position as a programmer ...
41
votes
12answers
4k views
Why isn't functional programming more popular in the industry? Does it catch on now? [closed]
During my four years at university we have been using much functional programming in several functional programming languages. But I have also used much object oriented programming to, and in fact I ...
50
votes
15answers
9k views
Is Haskell worth learning? [closed]
I am looking at this question primarily from a career point of view, so I hope you answer it accordingly.
I am fairly proficient with Python, can write C++ and I am a final year student of computer ...
65
votes
10answers
4k views
Would you put your stackoverflow profile link on your CV / Resume? [closed]
If applying for a new job, would you put your stackoverflow profile link on your resume? This would show the employer you're an active member of the development community and also provide an insight ...
9
votes
8answers
1k views
Career Prospects: Women at Management positions in Software
I was wondering if women working as software developers often face more positive/negative bias in IT than in other fields?
The only reason I ask this question is because personally I have noticed ...
6
votes
8answers
417 views
Is it better to be specialized in a few areas or have general abilities in many?
My situation is this. I will be graduating soon with a degree in Computer Science. I did have a job for a while working as a Web Developer for a small graphic design company. During this time, we ...
36
votes
7answers
6k views
Where can I find programming work online? [closed]
I have setup an ideal, quiet, non-interrupting environment at home. I am extremely productive here. I dont want to leave my home, not my room, not even my couch.
I am outside United States in a ...
37
votes
16answers
7k views
Best country for getting a job [closed]
I live and work in Italy, but here programmers are not valued very much, and the average development organization sucks (often we don't even have formal design, and I'm talking about huge ...
7
votes
1answer
2k views
How to get back to Software Engineering after a break?
I have been browsing the questions here for advice on how to prepare and approach for going back to the job market. The Q&As have been a lot helpful but I would like to share some of the questions ...
10
votes
5answers
963 views
How do I get myself out of a dead-end programming job? [duplicate]
I have almost 9 years of IT experience of which 7 years was worked in an IT company.
For past 2 years I have been stuck in a non-IT based company using outdated technology and methodologies. We ...
10
votes
4answers
1k views
Too much to learn, dealing with overwhelming varieties of technologies [closed]
I am about to graduate, and I am already working as a web developer in our library IT department.
When I look at job postings I am absolutely overwhelmed by the sheer variety of technologies out ...
9
votes
7answers
1k views
How do I transition to an area of development where I don't have experience?
I've been a Classic ASP web developer for the last 10 years and for the second time in two years I'm facing the possibility of being laid off. The biggest difference now is that the job market for ...
26
votes
24answers
2k views
Incentives to offer programmers
I'm going to be co-founding a business in the coming weeks that will cater to web development, design and web application development, possibly extending into software development in the future.
I'm ...
22
votes
14answers
1k views
Jobs that use programming which aren't in the technology sector [closed]
In the last chapter of "Learn Python the Hard Way" the author says:
Programming as a profession is only
moderately interesting. It can be a
good job, but if you want to make
about the same ...
14
votes
8answers
997 views
How to find entry level positions in a new city [closed]
I am just graduating from a computer science degree (tomorrow is my last exam). I have been thinking about job hunting this semester but I wanted to focus on my studies and part time job so I am a ...
15
votes
6answers
1k views
How crucial are computer science topics toward getting a job?
I've been considering moving to a new city (getting seduced by those big city lights), and I'm trying to decide if my lack of "computer science"-y skills is going to make me overly uncompetitive. Let ...
9
votes
7answers
1k views
How do I know when my development skills are good enough for a real job?
I've been studying computer science on my own for a few years, but I don't personally know anyone who programs.
I was wondering how you know when you're ready to start looking for a job? Does lack of ...
4
votes
5answers
480 views
What are the most cost effective ways of increasing your marketability to employers
There's a difference between becoming a better developer and showing you're a better developer to potential employers or to your current employer (ie. raises and such). I'm wondering what the most ...
14
votes
12answers
751 views
Do employers hiring for software jobs care about the classes you took in a Computer Science Masters program?
I'm torn between two classes right now for next semester (Software Design and Advanced Computer Graphics). I would enjoy Advanced Computer Graphics more, but I feel the software design class would ...
11
votes
5answers
2k views
Does being a software tester make you a more well-rounded developer?
I'm interested in the prospect of spending a few years as a tester: it seems like two or three years as a tester in anyone's CV is a big gain.
Are there any skills you can get as a software tester ...
6
votes
9answers
483 views
Which is more important career-wise: Length of time spent on a project, or personal projects?
There is quite a bit of disparity between hiring practices among companies. Some companies look for years experience, or breadth or depth of skill, and others choose other selection criteria. As well, ...
2
votes
13answers
1k views
Are Business Majors considered for Programming Jobs?
Are business majors like Marketing relevant for programming jobs. Do employers even consider business degree holders as potential candidates? Let's say, if all I had was a business degree, should I be ...
90
votes
22answers
6k views
Do job postings exaggerate their requirements? [closed]
I feel like a reasonably qualified programmer, but a lot of job postings I run into make me feel otherwise. Almost all of them separate qualifications into requirements and desirables, but even the ...
31
votes
8answers
853 views
What are the best ways to professionally increase your online presence?
I've been hunting around the job market for a little bit now and I've been shocked by some of the things I'm seeing. Software developers who make themselves more "known" online are getting far more ...
41
votes
17answers
3k views
Is OO-programming really as important as hiring companies place it?
I am just finishing my masters degree (in computing) and applying for jobs.. I've noticed many companies specifically ask for an understanding of object orientation. Popular interview questions are ...
12
votes
7answers
4k views
How do I apply a computer science degree to web development?
I'm a web programmer, but I haven't found many opportunities to take advantage of a formal education in computer science.
Maybe I'm not looking in the right places, but it seems to me like most of ...
34
votes
16answers
5k views
Will a computer science college degree ever hurt my employability? [closed]
Too often, I can see that there are many viable programmers without college degrees in Computer Science, Informatics, etc.
Now that I've been reading more articles about underperforming education ...
21
votes
11answers
4k views
Software engineer, already in late thirties, would I have trouble finding a new position? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is ageism in software development based on anything other than bias?
I have been a software engineer in the U.S for about 10 years now and I am already in my late ...
13
votes
7answers
1k views
Can I apply for “Software Engineer” jobs without being an engineer?
I am from a country in which the use of the word "Engineer" or "Engineering" is strictly regulated by legislation. This means that you must hold a degree in Engineering AND passed an exam to join the ...
13
votes
16answers
4k views
Is it still relevant to learn C these days?
Back in the uni days, I had the opportunity to study C for one semester but I didn't take it any further because I can not see many job opportunities for C hence I learnt Java. These days I see more ...
12
votes
6answers
2k views
Do people who get paid to write code but score low on the “programmer competency matrix” have an ethical duty to find a different kind of job?
People advise me to "find a job doing something that you are good at", but the truth is that I don't believe I am good with anything other than just writing code. I don't think that I can design or ...
10
votes
5answers
345 views
Are there opportunities working as full-time paid programmer for Non-profit organizations
Some recent events in my life have made me want to contribute more to causes I believe in rather than just working for a profit-driven company. I have been thinking that if I could find a non-profit ...
3
votes
2answers
756 views
Starting a career in quantitative finance
I've been reading John Hull book (Options, Futures and Other Derivatives) mostly on curiosity. I've read other books about financial markets in the past (like Elder's Trading for Living and the novel ...
7
votes
9answers
1k views
What is the difference between being an IT in investment bank and a professional IT company?
Suppose there are two positions:
IT in investment bank: developer for the infrastructure or the platform
a famous IT company: embedded developer, linux
As far as I understand, since in the ...
6
votes
3answers
999 views
What do I need to do to become a software contractor in the UK?
What do I need to know if I want to be a software contractor (in the UK)?
Do I need to set up a business?
What's the best way to get contracts?
What taxes do I need to pay? Should I get an ...
16
votes
13answers
846 views
What do you do when you realize your job requires you to do something out of your depth?
For a large software project recently, I was really out of my depth. And I did actually know this; and that the only reason I was employed was mostly a lack of other qualified candidates.
The job was ...
14
votes
8answers
928 views
How long can you be out of the MS market before it affects your career [closed]
I've been working with .Net since it first came out and have done my best to use the latest and greatest things from Redmond. That being said, I've been working for the past year in the ...
10
votes
12answers
1k views
As a young developer, should I be worried about having to use “out-of-style” tech at work?
I'm a recent college graduate (last May!). While I was still in school, I wanted to make sure that I had a job before I graduated, and very early (probably too early) in my job search I settled on one ...
7
votes
3answers
4k views
Industry jobs in artificial intelligence
As a relatively new computer science student, I am trying to find my niche within this broader field. My main goal is not academia but, well, a job. As such, I want to choose a specialization or two ...
7
votes
7answers
971 views
Is it possible/likely to be paid fairly without a college degree? [closed]
Some back story, and then my question:
I took a "break" from getting a university education last year to work full time as back end developer on a GIS application at $10.50 an hour. Later that year ...
7
votes
10answers
4k views
Is it more valuable to double major in Computer Science/Software Engineering or get an undergraduate CS degree with a Masters in SE?
A friend and I (both in college) are currently in a debate over which is better, in terms of employment opportunities, experience, and education: a Bachelors degree in both Computer Science and ...
3
votes
3answers
269 views
What are general guidelines and advices to estimate how much you should charge for a project, being a novice freelancer? [closed]
I am an experienced programmer but completely new to the market. Someone wants me to do a project for them, but I do not know how much it is worth. What are general guidelines/advices for finding what ...
2
votes
6answers
841 views
How are developing countries affecting the web design and development field?
While searching ELance.com I noticed that companies from developing countries, such as India and Pakistan, were snatching up a lot of the freelance jobs at a low pay. How are foreign countries ...
10
votes
6answers
2k views
What is the solution for “not enough commercial experience”?
I have almost 2 years commercial experience in web development. Yet every time I apply for a job I get a call back "Sorry you don't have enough commercial experience for this position."
The last 6 ...
